Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said a decision has been taken to implement add free (clean feed) broadcasting of foreign TV channels from September 30.
He also informed that another decision has been taken to bring all television cable networks of Dhaka and Chattogram cities under digital system by November 30 and all other divisional and metropolitan cities along with Dinajpur, Bogura, Kushtia, Cumilla, Rangamati and Cox's
Bazar district towns by December 31.
The minister told reporters after a meeting with the representatives of Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO), Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB), Satellite TV Channel Distributor and Direct to Home (DTH) at the meeting room of his ministry at secretariat in Dhaka.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murad Hasan and Secretary of the ministry Md Mokbul Hossain were present in the meeting.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said decisions have been taken to broadcast add free (clean feed) foreign TV channels, to bring the TV cable networks under digital system and to eliminate other irregularities as per the country's law before the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the meeting discussed the implementation of those decisions in the perspective of the present situation as the outbreak of Covid-19 has been decreasing gradually due to the mass vaccination activities.
The minister termed the discussion as fruitful one, saying steps will be taken to implement the clean feed broadcasting and to inform the customers for bringing the cable networks under digital system.
He also warned that tough actions would be taken in showing unapproved TV through video streams on the internet, illegal DTH connections, screening illegal cinemas and advertisements at cable networks and for running cable networks without licence.
The minister said a total of 1,200 cable operating and feed licences have already been cancelled for not renewing for two consecutive years.
